One and a half years have passed since I made one of the most significant decisions of my life to fulfill my dream and go cycling around the world.
During that time, I lost a lot of weight, got into the best shape I had ever been, acquired new friends, met new people, and had unique experiences.
I am almost ready to go, and just before I pack the bags and book the flight, ensuring that I will not forget anything important. I want to reflect on the recent events.
That cursed day
A loud red alert woke me up early on the 7th of October. Jumping out of bed, dressing, and quickly heading to the staircase to take shelter, meeting the horrified neighbors.
Judging by the many interceptions, I knew something big was happening. I couldn't imagine how bad it would be.
Constantly checking the news on many platforms, I was shocked and terrified at what I saw. As the fog cleared, it became more and more of a nightmare.
Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel by shooting many rockets toward crowded civilian areas and simultaneously infiltrating the Gaza-Israel barrier, getting into nearby settlements and a nearby party, and massacring more than a thousand people. Men and women of all ages and even babies.
A whole country was in shock. It felt like life had stopped. There has been a general sensation of depression and sadness all around.
Everyone united and helped each other as much as possible in their own way, and slowly, a new routine started to form.
The rocket shootings became less frequent, businesses began to reopen, and people walked on the streets again. At some point, I even decided to cycle again. After all, life has to go on.
Things are happening
Considering the situation, realizing that most of my plans for the upcoming months were canceled, I decided it would be best to leave for the around-the-world adventure as soon as January 2024. Therefore, I quit my job in December following a 1-month notice.
For the last 4 and a half years, I have worked with brilliant people, acquired new skills, and solved complicated problems while working as a Software Engineer in a fast-growing fintech company, FundGuard.
Before leaving, it was vital for me to close my tasks and share as much knowledge as possible with the team. After all, there were so many complex problems I had the opportunity to solve during all that time.
One day, I woke up and realized I no longer had to go to work. I had no obligations besides planning and preparing for my adventure. It felt strange and scary, but I had to go on one last adventure in Israel.
Stress relief
I packed gear on my bike and hopped on a bus towards the Red Sea to Eilat. From there, I cycled to the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, following the southern part of the Discover Israel Trail.
I didn't know what to expect during wartime, but I convinced myself this was my last opportunity to explore the desert before leaving for the world tour, so I did it.
Fortunately, the adventure was a huge success. Allowing me to explore remote, gorgeous areas I had never been to before and, more importantly, to disconnect from the depressing situation and explore the beautiful Negev.
Often, I felt uncomfortable that soldiers were fighting in Gaza and getting injured or killed. People lost their families, relatives, jobs, and belongings, and I was cycling, exploring the country, and having fun.
Fortunately, more and more followers told me that sharing my adventure helped to improve their morale and motivate them regardless of the complicated situation, which gave me the endorsement to continue and keep sharing my experiences.
In fact, being able to do such a fantastic adventure during wartime feels like showing a middle finger in the face of the Hamas.
Checklist routine
Since I finished the adventure, I have made a long list of tasks I must complete before leaving. Some are as simple as buying a plane ticket, giving away some things, or packing bags. Others are more complicated, like selling the motorcycle, finding the right insurance, or planning the tour.
Every morning, I would pick items from the list, take care of them, and later get satisfaction from checking them as done, but right after remembering some other things that need to be done and having the list growing again.
It is very exhausting to think about how much preparation needs to be done for the adventures. Still, everything I will forget now will be very uncomfortable to resolve from aboard. Hence, it has to be done now.
Sometimes, I imagine myself cycling in some remote area, just me, the bike, and a cool breeze on a sunny winter day. Feeling relaxed and careless, listening to the birds and making dinner plans. So naive, so romantic, and so satisfying.
Everything works out at the end
What amazes me is how, time after time, after you make a decision and announce it to the world around you, suddenly, everything starts to work towards your goal.
You meet new people who are likely-minded, new opportunities are revealed, and things start happening. It's like some kind of hidden energy that guides you toward the goal you set.
Some people may call it god, others may claim it's some universal energy or just pure luck. I am still determining what and how it works, but I know it exists. I experienced it so many times before.
For example, during the Negev adventure, I met with Eden Riboy, a great adventurer who even crossed the USA on a bicycle. He inspired me with his YouTube videos and his positive attitude.
We even met again, hung out together, shared stories, and reminded each other why we love doing it.
Eden gave me essential tips, leaving me excited about the upcoming adventure. He claims he still owes me a beer, which I will not resist getting. I hope we meet again someday and even have an adventure together!
It's almost time
By the end of January, I will board an airplane to Florida, USA, and head west towards California, following the Florida Connector, Southern Tier, and then north towards Vancouver, Canada, following the Pacific Coast routes.
For a very long time, I was convincing myself that life is meaningless and that the system we live in defines the path we follow. Today, I know I was wrong and am not afraid to admit it.
I want to see new landscapes, meet new people, taste new flavors, feel new emotions, hear new stories, experience new things, and make new friends. I want to see the world and remember this adventure for my lifetime. I want to inspire other people to go on their own adventures, even just for a few days.
Thanks again for joining me again. I am so excited to share the upcoming stories with you. Please do let me know if there is something I can do to help you take the first steps toward your adventures.
Until next time, Andrey.
